Frederick Agyapong-Fordjour

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Bio

I’m Frederick Agyapong-Fordjour, a Research Scientist at Argonne National Lab, Material Science Division and I hail from Ghana, West Africa. I had my bachelor’s degree in general chemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana before earning a Ph.D. in Energy Science at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea. I have research expertise in electrochemistry and material synthesis for renewable energy storage applications. My current research at Argonne National Laboratory focuses on improving the utilization and durability of materials for renewable energy technology applications. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active and trying new things.


Fundamental Studies - Understanding the Discharge Mechanism and Capacity Limits of Lead Acid Battery Electrodes
Frederick Agyapong-Fordjour, Research Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory, United States

Frederick Agyapong-Fordjour, Crystal Ferels, Nikhil Chaudhuri, Cailin Buchanan, Pietro Papa Lopes

Long-term energy storage offers significant advantages, ensuring a reliable power supply during peak demand periods for grid stability and flexibility. It also facilitates greater integration of renewable energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Lead batteries are poised to play a crucial role in a sustainable, decarbonized energy future due to their abundance, cost-effectiveness, and high recyclability rate of 99%. Enhancing lead battery design to optimize material use, accelerate recharge rates, and extend cycle life hinges on a comprehensive understanding of electrochemical and chemical processes at atomic and molecular scales. This study explores how using well-defined electrode interfaces provides insights into the fundamental limits of discharge capacity and recharge rates. Our findings elucidate the relationship between discharge rates and PbSO4 particle size/layer thickness, and how they are critical in determining the maximum accessible discharge capacity of both negative and positive lead electrodes. These insights have informed the development of a mathematical model that captures underlying processes governing lead ion and (bi)sulfate ion gradients, nucleation, and growth — foundational to explaining the empirical Peukert law from first principles.

Moreover, investigating variables such as acid concentration, temperature, and the inclusion of lignosulfonate additives in the electrolyte sheds light on their impact on discharge capacity. This holistic approach integrates thermodynamic, kinetic, and mass transport considerations, providing a pathway to enhance the discharge capacity of lead-acid batteries and maximize their utilization potential. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of key factors driving battery performance improvements essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions.